Red Cross takes strides forward

The American Red Cross, which suffered a blow to its prestige in the Texas Panhandle, has taken a hopeful step back toward restoration.

Tracy D. Smyers, a retired Navy captain, is the new chief executive officer of the Red Cross’ North Texas Region, which covers the Panhandle.

He is leading a regional reorganization effort designed to build in needed transparency and accountability on how the Red Cross is spending money it receives from the community.

It was one year ago today that fires erupted across the Panhandle, torching several dozen homes, displacing families and causing untold grief, horror and anguish to many residents.

The Red Cross collected nearly $300,000 in donations from residents willing to give to the relief agency’s work.

But by September, the Red Cross had to acknowledge it had spent less than half the money it raised.

It kept collecting money from donors who were giving with the expectation it would go toward helping those who suffered damage by the wildfires.

There was a breakdown in communication among the Red Cross, the donors, the victims and the public at large.

Two leaders of the Panhandle’s Red Cross operation resigned, although the agency said their resignations weren’t related to the criticism that had been leveled at the Red Cross.

Whatever ...

As the Amarillo Globe-News’ Karen Smith Welch reported this past week, Smyers said “respecting and managing donor intent is a big focus of the Red Cross, but under the new reorganization, its even more so.”

Smyers has pledged centralized accounting, enabling the agency to “put several different sets of eyes on the funds that are brought in, and it brings it to a higher level of transparency and awareness within the organization.”

The agency does great work throughout the region.

It must be sure, though, to ensure the money people give indeed gets to the intended beneficiaries in a timely manner.